晒
bleach, refine, expose, air
Readings
On'yomi
- サイ
- シ
Kun'yomi
- さら.す
- さらし
Meaning
晒 centers on exposing something to the elements, especially sunlight and air, to change it: bleaching fabric, airing out, or refining by open-air treatment. The idea of exposure also extends to making something visible or public.
Most common words using 晒
- 晒すさらすN1
to expose (to the sun, public, danger, etc.)
- 晒しさらし
bleaching; soaking
- 晒し者さらしもの
pilloried criminal exposed to public view; public scorn or humiliation; person shamed in front of others
- 夜晒よざらし
leaving things exposed outside all night
- 寒晒しかんざらし
exposure to cold
- 晒し木綿さらしもめん
bleached cotton cloth
- 晒し粉さらしこ
bleaching powder
- 晒竹さらしだけ
dried bamboo; white bamboo
- 晒菜升麻さらしなしょうま
bugbane (Cimicifuga simplex)
- 晒裏さらしうら
bleached lining (esp. tabi); bleached interior
- 未晒しみさらし
unbleached; undyed
- 棚晒したなざらし
shopworn goods; dead stock; shelf warmer
- 洗い晒すあらいざらす
to fade something by overwashing it
- 目を晒すめをさらす
to fix one's eyes on; to stare intently at; to study carefully (with the eyes)
Study
Etymology
晒 combines 日 (sun) with 西, which likely acts as a phonetic component. The character suggests exposing something to sunlight, consistent with its meanings of bleaching and airing.
Meaning mnemonic
The sun 日 on the left shines on the right side 西, like spreading something out under the western sun to bleach and air it.
Reading mnemonic
For サイ, imagine a sigh of relief as you air out a stuffy room: sigh -> サイ, and the sun streams in to refresh everything.